Principal Nicholas S. Rotonda's...

TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.

April 8, 1989

PALISADES PARK, N.J. — TALES OUT OF SCHOOL. Principal Nicholas S. Rotonda's problems began when a company called Upfront Films Inc. was not up-front with him about the kind of movie it wanted to shoot in Palisades Park High School. It turns out that in Senior Week, made in the summer of 1987 and released only on videotape, some of the actresses portraying students were topless. As a result, Rotonda was suspended with pay Saturday. Dozens of students marched earlier this week at the high school to protest Rotonda's suspension, and teachers approved a resolution calling for his reinstatement. Rotonda himself said the school board approved the movie and that the suspension was ''political'' - the film issue came up last week at a school board candidates' night.